The Reality of Primate Experimentation in the United States:
Lies, Greed, and Insanity

By Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T.

The Psychological State of Non-human Primates in U.S. Laboratories

Earlier in this report it was stated that legal requirements
exist so that the environment of primates in laboratories is
enhanced to promote their psychological well-being. This is a very
serious issue and deserves significant discussion.

The natural environment of free-ranging primates is complicated
and elicits many intricate behaviors. The environment includes
trees, predators, changing weather conditions, etc. All of these
things give non-human primates a wide variety of experiences on a
daily basis. It is not uncommon for some species of primates to
range over 1 square mile of territory on a daily basis. However, the
laboratory cage, is very different, extremely sterile, designed
primarily for ease of cleaning.

The enclosures in which many primates are housed are listed by
medical journals as being 83.3-cm long by 76.2-cm wide by 91.4-cm
deep which translates into 33 inches long by 30 inches wide by 36
inches deep. To put yourself in their place you must imagine that
your life consists of confinement in a small enclosure which only
allows you to take at most one or two short steps in any direction
and with just enough height to stand upright. You never have the
opportunity to see the sun or breathe fresh air. This is in very
stark contrast to what takes place in their natural environment. It
is no surprise that this situation alone can have serious
psychological consequences. Hair pulling, stereotypical behavior and
self-mutilation are not uncommon.

USDA inspection reports provide some glimpses of what happens to
the psychological state of primates. In October of 2006 primates at
Yale are described as circling in their cages. In April of 2007,
primates at the University of South Florida are described with hair
loss and as circling in cages. In August of 2006 a primate at the
University of Pittsburgh shows signs of distress. In August of 2006
several primates at the State University of New York, Brooklyn, are
showing signs of distress. In March of 2007 primates at the Charles
River laboratories are showing stereotypical behaviors. In February
of 2006 six monkeys at the Boehringer Ingelheim facility in
Connecticut are showing signs of distress. In March of 2007 primates
at this same facility have significant hair loss. Internal records
from several other facilities give us a more detailed look.

Internal documents from the Medical College of Virginia reveal
that primates experience such severe stress that they often become
self-abusive. Rhesus monkey M1390 endured a lifetime of suffering at
MCV:

“Arrived years ago and from the beginning had difficulty
adjusting to the lab. Throughout the years several attempts were
made to address his behavior problems using enrichment and various
experimental protocols. He would show improvement for a period but
would return to bouts of stereotypic behavior including aggression
and self injurious behavior. Due to recent indications that his
behavior had worsened, the PI opted to remove the animal from study
and request euthanasia.”

Many of the primates within this facility are so severely
disturbed that they tear out their own hair. Fur is plucked from
arms, legs, tails, and heads. One monkey was so disturbed that
he/she removed all of the hair from his/her head, resulting in
baldness.

Additionally, these animals suffer with surgically implanted
catheters, which they often rip out. Infections are not uncommon.
Jackets are placed on these monkeys in a vain effort to protect the
catheters. This serves only to cause more stress as the monkeys chew
and tear at the jackets in frustration. Some of these rhesus monkeys
become so agitated that they shake and bang on the cages and tear at
the restrictive jackets. Others, seeming to give up, simply lie on
the floor of the cage and clutch their tails.

Internal records from the University of Michigan provide another
look inside the laboratory. Almost every health record for the
primates at UM which were used in addiction experiments lists a time
when the monkeys are ripping out their hair, or worse. Several
actually mention multiple incidents of severe self-mutilation. Other
primates are listed as requiring the amputation of their tails due
to self-inflicted lacerations.

One of the UM primates named Scallywag is listed as losing weight
from the constant activity associated with psychologically abnormal
behavior. Another primate named Clash had a 12% weight loss of
unknown origin. Yet, another rhesus monkey is described as declining
from 6.8 kg to 5.8 kg (15 pounds to 12 ¾ pounds) a 15% weight loss
in just 3 months. This animal also has constant muscle contractions
and is hypothermic which could be related to drug withdrawal. Yet,
another primate named Data had a weight loss of 10.5% in a short
period.

Harpo’s records discuss four incidents of self-mutilation in five
days during 2006; this comes after a long history of
self-destructive behavior. Eminem wears a “long sleeved jacket due
to history of self-mutilation.” Scallywag behaves abnormally around
people. The list goes on and on and on.

Similarly, documents from the University of Minnesota serve to
complete the picture of mental abnormality that is the reality of
the incarceration of primates in labs. Documents from this facility
reveal very clearly what these monkeys endure. On 8/9/05, primate
05GP20 is listed as “Temp was up due to primate jumping back and
forth wildly.” On 8/23/05, primate #312E shows evidence of
self-mutilation: “did bite knee after observation.” Primate #45C on
3/21/06 is listed as “extremely thin, body condition is poor, severe
alopecia . . . bruising on top of left ankle.” Monkey #45D on
11/15/05 is described: “. . . ripping hair from the armpit area and
chewing on the fur, each time he would grab a tuft of fur he would
vocalize.” Primate #25b was overdosed on 9/14/04 and was observed
11/15/05 “ . . . ripping hair from the armpit area and chewing on
the fur, each time he would grab a tuft of hair he would vocalize.”
Two separate primates are described this way. How many more are
behaving like this without being noticed?

These are only glimpses inside a few laboratories, but the
picture painted by them is not pretty. It is clear that the
laboratory environment has a lasting impact on the psychological
nature of on-human primates.